out of control

out of control

1. Without response to manual direction or input. The machine started spinning out of control.

2. Reckless or wild; in an unruly or unmanageable state or manner. I'm sorry for the way I acted last night. I had too much to drink and got a little out of control.The real estate market in this city is totally out of control.

*out of control

1.Lit. [of something, such as a machine] not responding to direction or instructions. (*Typically: be ~; go ~.) The computer is out of control and making funny-looking characters all over the screen.My CD player is out of control and only makes screeching noises.

2. and *out of handFig. acting wildly or violently. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) Watch out, that dog is out of control.The kids got out of hand again.

out of control

Also, out of hand. No longer under management, direction, or regulation; unmanageable or unruly. For example, Housing costs are out of control, or The children were getting out of hand again. The first term uses control in the sense of "restraint," a usage dating from the late 1500s; the variant uses hand in the sense of "power" or "authority," and dates from the late 1800s.

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